Issues

Hidden Victims: Sexual Violence Against Boys and Men in Conflict, 11 December 2017, New York

Sexual violence against boys and men in situations of armed conflict and displacement is a critical problem. It hasn’t been given the attention it deserves by the international community up to now, making this initiative even more important,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG-CAAC), Ms. Virginia Gamba in her opening remarks at a High-Level event on the issue on 11 December 2017. The event was co-organised by the Permanent Missions of Liechtenstein, UK, Switzerland, the All Survivors Project and the Liechtenstein Institute on Self Determination at Princeton University.

CAAC Open Debate Press Statement

Conflict related sexual violence against men and boys: An agenda to build a gender-inclusive response Wednesday 25 October, Princeton Club, New York

Co-hosted by the All Survivors Project and the Liechtenstein Institute on Self Determination at Princeton University (LISD) this meeting provided a much-needed opportunity and space for leaders from humanitarian and human rights community, academics, policy makers, development practitioners and child protection experts to come together to discuss issues concerning ongoing sexual violence against men and boys from policy and programming perspectives. Panellists included: Tonderai Chikuwah, Special Adviser, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict; Prof.Lara Stemple, Director, Health & Human Rights, UCLA, School of Law; Rick Sollom, Senior RBM Manager, Directorate of International Protection, UNHCR.

Briefing to UN member states hosted by the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN in New York, 23 October, 2017

Briefing on “Building Gender inclusivity: Sexual Violence Against Men & Boys” organized by the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN in partnership with the All Survivors Project. The briefing took place Monday 23 October, 9:00-10:30 at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN (885 2nd Ave, entrance on 47th and 48th St).

Briefing to the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, 18 October 2017

Sexual violence is proving to be among the most difficult to document of the six grave violations against children during situations of armed conflict enumerated in UN Security Council resolutions. In the Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict on 31 October 2017, All Survivors Project calls upon member states to respond to the largely hidden problem of sexual violence against boys in armed conflict by taking a range of measures.

Where Vulnerability Meets Power: – protecting children during conflicts and humanitarian disasters at the British Psychological Society Offices, 16 October 2017, London

Our Director, Charu Lata Hogg spoke about the vulnerabilities of boys to sexual violence in situations of conflict and displacement. This symposium brought together humanitarians, psychologists, criminologists and child safeguarding specialists to explore the nature and causes of abuse to children during emergencies, and to show how those entrusted with protecting children can turn into abusers. The symposia will also look for solutions in terms of the systems, procedures and support required to ensure that children can be kept safe.

Launch of All Survivors Project’s report ‘Legacies and Lessons: Sexual Violence against men and boys in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Sri Lanka’ at Chatham House, 16 May 2017, London

The panel also discussed local and international efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence. How can international and local communities hold perpetrators accountable? What structures are in place to help support victims of sexual violence across the world? And, if gender norms which trigger sexual violence against women in conflict also apply to men, why then do international frameworks on sexual violence only seem to apply to women?

Sri Lanka’s men face rape in custody decade after end of civil war

“Making the Invisible Visible” Video Commemorates International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict

The All Survivors Project, hosted by the Williams Institute, commemorates International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict on June 19, 2017, by releasing “Making the Invisible Visible.” The nine minute video highlights ongoing sexual violence against men and boys across situations of conflict and displacement.

“Humanitarian attention turns to male victims of sexual violence”

Zainab Hawa Bangura on the issue of sexual violence against males in conflict

Outgoing Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict talks about the issue of male victims of sexual violence and the need to address it at the event “Sexual Violence can Strike Anyone” celebrated last 15th March at the Permanent Mission of Spain to the United Nations.

This event was organised by the All Survivors Project, the Permanent Missions of Spain and Liechtenstein, and cosponsored by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Sexual Violence in Conflict.

“…sexual violence against men and boys, particularly in the context of detention under a previous infamous security legislation, has only recently begun to be recognised as among the numerous abuses that have taken place within the context of the armed conflict. A proposed Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) which is awaiting Parliamentary approval threatens to continue prolonged detention without charge. If approved this counter-terrorism bill could continue to facilitate human rights abuses in detention.” 26 June 2017.

Workshop on CAAC-WPS, 20-21 April 2017, Berlin

Our Director Charu Hogg presented research on sexual and gender based violence against boys and men in Sri Lanka and Bosnia at the Workshop on Children and Armed Conflict & Women, Peace and Security (CAAC-WPS) which was held in Berlin on the 20-21 April 2017 at the Federal Foreign Office.